Join other industrialized nations in insuring universal health care

Friday, July 3, 2009

This waste would be eliminated by HR 676 which promotes a national "single-payer" system. The bill is co-sponsored by Maryland Reps. Donna Edwards and Elijah Cummings. Many Americans and physicians favor such a system, which would still allow citizens to choose their own doctor.

However, Sen. Max Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, which held hearings on health care reform has taken single payer off the table. No wonder. Medical care industry groups have spent $18 million in lobbying during the first quarter of 2009. In his last campaign, our Rep. Steny Hoyer received a total of $389,000 in donations from health insurance companies and health professional organizations.

We need health care for people, not for profit. Our representatives should vote for the best interests of American citizens, not for profiteering businesses. Only with campaign finance reform will the best interests of the American people be represented, rather than those of corporations and other special interests. The Fair Election Act Now (HR 1826) proposes voluntary public funding of all congressional elections.

A new study by Physicians for a National Health Program showed that 62.1 percent of all bankruptcies in 2007 were linked to medical bills. Three-quarters of those bankrupted had health insurance at the time illness struck. This illustrates the failure of our current system.

With the number of uninsured Americans growing in the current downturn of the economy and the uncontrolled rise of health care costs it's time for our federal government to step up to the plate and join the rest of all industrialized nations in insuring universal health care.

Chris Schmitthenner, Mechanicsville